Textile twisting machine control mechanism



Oct. 10, 1961 F. WRIGHT 3,

TEXTILE TWISTING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed A z. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 29 i h 1 Z? s l 15 10 I416 9 10 Oct. 10, 1961 F. WRIGHT TEXTILE TWISTING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1958 Oct. 10, 1961 F. WRIGHT 3,003,303

TEXTILE TWISTING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Q 3,003,303 TEXTILE TWISTING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Frank Wright, Haworth, Keighley, England, assignor to Prince-Smith & Stells Limited, Keighley, England Filed Aug. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 758,085 Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 2, 1957 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-78) The invention has reference to textile twisting machines of the kind wherein the spindles are provided with individual driving motors, its object being to provide means whereby, when the yarn tension is relaxed due to a prolonged stoppage of the machine, (a) the synchronous starting and stopping of the delivery rollers assembly and the spindle may be ensured, (b) the uniformity of twist in the product maintained, and (c) the stop-motion detectors, which are normally sensitive to breakages between the creel and the delivery roller assembly and between the delivery roller assembly and the traveller, may be rendered temporarily inoperative.

According to the invention, the machine comprises a rotary control member, cams on said member respectively operative (i) to actuate an electric switch for stopping and starting the machine driving motors, and (ii) to neutralise the stop-motion detectors when the machine is stopped, and means operatively associated with said control member for applying brakes to the spindles when said motors are switched off and for releasing the brakes when the machine is re-started.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in and hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which FIG. 1 is a view seen across the frame of the control apparatus in relation to the delivery rollers and spindles when the machine is running normally, and FIG. 2 is a detail of the detectorneutralising cam, FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar views to FIG. 1' respectively showing the position of the parts when the machine is stopped, and during the final stage of the cycle. FIGS. 5 and 6 are details of the control switch cam, showing its position respectively when the machine has stopped and just prior to re-starting.

In the drawings, the delivery rollers of the machine are indicated at 10, 10, the spindles at 11, 11, and the scissors brakes of the spindles at 12, 12.

In the type of machine to which the invention is directed, each spindle is wound by being pressed up against a driving member, thread carrying means being provided for traversing the spindle lengthwise and also a handle for the starting and stopping of the operation. As each winding spindle is capable of independent operation, a failure of thread supply or a thread breakage at one spindle does not affect any other. Generally, each machine has several spindle units on a common frame, for example, a pair of spindles protruding from opposite sides of each gear box.

Each individual unit is started up in the conventional manner as by means of a foot brake, not shown. The spring 125 is attached to a rod which in turn is connected to the foot brake. Pressure on the foot brake causes the rod to be moved in a upward direction against the bias of the spring 125. The ends of the scissors-type spindle brake 12 which are normally urged inwardly are moved from the cone taper into an annular groove on the full diameter of cone 123, and the cone and spindle are thereby restrained in this upper position (FIG. 1). The brake pads of spindle brake 12 are released from contact with spindle 11 which is then free to revolve.

The units may also be started up collectively. This is carried out by turning handwheel 15 on either side of the machine, the longitudinal shaft 13 is turned and also crank disc 18. Crank disc 18 is coupled with rod 24 3,0033%? Patented Oct. 10, 1961 which in turn is connected to a lever 25 fixed to one of two shafts 26, 27 which are intergeared by the meshing gears 261 and 271 which carry a pair of arms 28 by which spindle brake 12 is applied or released. In FIG. 4, the operative position is shown. Rod 24 is moved in a downward direction which causes lever arm 28 to come in contact with a protrusion on cone 123 acting to move cone 123 upwards against the bias of spring 125. The rollers on the end of the scissors-type brake 12 which are bearing on the taper of cone 123 are opened by the upward movement of cone 123 and are held open by resting in an annular groove on the full diameter of cone 123. This results in the release of the spindle 11 from the brake pads and starting up of the units.

To collectively stop the units, handwheel 15 is turned in the same direction as before until the crank disc 18 elevates rod 24 which in turn moves lever 25 causing upper arm 28 to contact the protrusion on cone 123. The rollers on the end of scissors-type brake 12 are forced out of the annular groove arranged on the full diameter of cone 123 and the bias of the spring moves rod 24 in a downward direction, bringing the rollers of brake 12 onto the taper of cone 123. The brake pads on the brake 12 are brought to bear on spindle 11 and a braking is elfected. In FIG. 3, there is shown the stage where the upper arm 28 has just finished making contact with the protrusion on cone 123, the spring 125 having forced the rod downward.

The stopping of the individual units is made through the detector arrangement in the event of a break ofthread at one spindle.

The basic cycle of the operation of the machine is controlled through the medium of a shaft 13 extending throughout the length of the machine, and connected by worm 131 and worm-wheel 132 gearing to a transverse shaft 14 having handwheels 15, 15 so that it may be operated from either side of the machine. The longitudinal shaft 13 carries two earns 16 and 17 and a crank disc 18. The cam 16 serves to actuate a switch 19 controlling the driving motors for the spindles and rollers, and the cam 17 cooperates with a follower 20 upon which are pivoted one arm of each of two levers 21, 22 respectively associated with the stop-motion detector cradles 23, 23 at the two sides of the machine. The said crank disc 18 is coupled by a rod 24 to a lever 25 fixed to one of two shafts 26, 27 which are inter-geared by the meshing gears 261, 271 and which extend throughout the length of the machine and which carry, in respect of each spindle a pair of arms 28 by which the spindle brake 12 is respectively applied at the commencement of the stoppage period and released at the termination thereof in the manner hereinafter described. It will be seen that the left hand arm 28 rotates in synchronism with the right hand arm 28.

When the rod 124 moves in the opposite direction to allow the members 121 to come together as they coopcrate with the reduced diameter of the cone 123, the brake pads on said members 121 engage the spindle blade 11 and apply braking force thereto.

The said scissors brake 12 comprises members 121 which are pivoted together in scissors fashion at 122 and furnished at their extremities with brake pads (not shown) which bear against a brake drum on the spindle blade 11. At their opposite ends said members 121 embrace a cone 123 which is fixed on an upright slidable rod 124 which is biased by a spring 125 towards a downward position below that in which it is shown in FIG. 1, in which the members are in contact with the upper parts of the cone 123 and the brake is applied to the spindle. To release the brake the cone 123 is raised in opposition to the spring 125, bringing it to the position shown in FIG. 1 in the manner hereinafter described,

are accomplished during a single revolution of the longitudinal control shaft 13 and the cams 16, 17 and crankdisc 18 thereon. When the machine is running both cams 16, 17 are inoperative, the stop-motion detector cradles 23 are clear of the cam-operated levers 21, 22, and'the, crank-disc 18 is in the brake-release position, in

which, as shown in FIG. 4, the rod 24 has pushed down the lever 25 so that the lowermost of the two arms 28 on each shaft 26, 27, impinges against the underside of an abutment 126 on each cone 123, thereby raising the latter to release the brake in the manner already described. To stop the machine, the shaft 13 is turned to a position, determined by a spring-pressed stop 29, which cooperates at that point with a recess 30 provided in the periphery of the disc 18. The cam 17 first operates the mechanism to render the stop-motion detectors inoperative by moving the levers 21, 22 in a position in which the levers 211,221 operatively, associated therewith occupy positions in which the cradles 23 thereof are depressed in the running position, the cam 16 operates the switch 19 to break'the motor circuits, and the crank-disc 18 turns 7 so that the cones 123 may revert to the position shown in FIG. '3, in which the members 121 are permitted to close so as to apply the brakes 12 to the spindles 11. In preparation 'for re-starting, the shaft 13 is turned further, whilst'the cams 16 and 17 remain operative, the crank-disc 18 withdraws the, brake pressure; the final stage ,of the cycle causes the motors to be switched on and the cam-operated cradle-holding levers 21, 22 to be retracted so as to free the cradles 23. A second recess 31 in the disc 18 for the spring-pressed stop 29 is provided for holding the control shaft 13 yieldable in the running position.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown) the control shaft 13 is driven through suitable operations hereinbefore described withreference to the manually-operated embodiment.

I claim:

1. A textile twisting machine comprising spindles and separate drive and brake means for said spindles, a rotary control member,'means for starting and stopping said separate drive means, stop motion detector means, means arranged onisaid control member for actuating said stopping and starting means, means arranged on said control member for neutralizing said stop motion detectors when said machine is stopped, means operatively associated with said control member for actuating gearing by an electric motor which is regulated by appropriate switch-gear in such manner as to perform the said brake means to apply a braking action on said spindle when said drive means are stopped and for removing said braking action when said drive means are started.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein all of said means arranged on said control member are cams.

' 3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said cam means'for neutralizing said stop motion detector are operatively connected with a follower, said stop motion detector having pivotally secured thereto an arm composed of two parts and adapted for pivotal motion at the joining of said two parts, the free end of said arm being pivotally connected with said follower whereby when said drive means are stopped said cam actuates said follower which acts on said stop motion detectors and said spindles are stopped.

4. A machine according to claim 1 including a crank disc arranged on said control member, said crank disc being in operative connection with'said brake means.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said brake means are scissors-type brake means. 7 I a 6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said rotary control member is a longitudinally extending shaft.

7. A machine according to claim 6 additionally including means for manually actuating said control member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,268 7 Kimpton Dec, 22, 1942 2,317,113 Reichelt Apr. 20,1943 

